Schema theory SRQ

Is the basics of what to write in and SRQ for psychology.

What is schema in simple terms?

A schema is a cognitive framework or mental structure that helps individuals organize and interpret information.

What is schema in more complex terms?

Schemas are used to categorize objects, events, and situations based on our previous experiences and knowledge, allowing us to understand and respond to new information more efficiently.

what is the schema theory?

The schema theory implies that all knowledge is organized into units, or schemas, which are stored in our memory.

These schemas help us process and interpret new information by providing a structure for understanding experiences and predicting future events. When we encounter new information, we either assimilate it into existing schemas or accommodate our schemas to include the new information.

what does it provide?

Schema theory provides a structured way to understand how knowledge is organized and utilized in the brain. It explains how people perceive, think, and remember information.

what does the theory adress

The theory addresses how individuals learn and store new information by connecting it to existing knowledge. It explains the processes of assimilation and accommodation, which are fundamental to cognitive development and learning.

types of schemas

• Person schemas

• Self-schemas

• Social schemas

• Cultural schemas

• event schemas

Event schemas

Mental frameworks that guide our understanding and expectations of sequences of events in specific contexts.

What is the main study?

loftus and Palmer (1974)

aim of the study?

To investigate whether leading questions asked of eyewitnesses after an event can change memory

methodology

45 American university students were split into five groups and were shown seven film clips of traffic accidents. Following each film, participants were asked to write a brief account, and then to answer questions, one of which was the leading question: 'About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?' The verb 'hit' was used for one group, and was replaced with either 'smashed', 'collided', 'bumped', or 'contacted' for each of the other groups.

results

The verb 'smashed' yielded a mean estimate of 40.5mph, while participants with the verb 'contacted' in their question estimated a mean speed of 31.8mph.

The study found that changing a single word in a question about a car accident could change how fast people thought the cars were going. When the word suggested a more severe crash ('smashed'), people thought the cars were going faster. This shows that our memories can be influenced by how questions are asked after we see something.

conclsusion

External information supplied (or in this case implied) after the fact, can change memories of an event. This ties in with schema theory, where the schema invoked by the word 'smashed' is a more serious accident than that invoked by the word 'contacted'.